The winning ticket? Johnson-Gordon

Sporting News, The, August 23, 2004 by Lee Spencer

Never mind what happened at Watkins Glen--the second straight race points leader Jimmie Johnson failed to finish--the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup still is shaping up as a battle between Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

It won't be the first time Hendrick Motorsports teammates captured the top two points positions. In 1996, Hendrick's Terry Labonte won his second title, and Gordon was runner-up by 37 points. No other organization in the garage has had the solidarity to do that.

Hendrick Motorsports has created a recipe for success in its ultramodern shop at 4443 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd. The shop's vantage point on top of the hill overlooking the rest of the complex gives these teams the appearance of being in a league of their own--and they are. Gordon's No. 24 and Johnson's No. 48 teams are carbon copies, and there aren't two other teams in the garage that come close to resembling these mechanical clones. Other organizations are working overtime to catch HMS, but at this point the others are racing for third.

"We'd like it to be a 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports if we're the only two in the top 10," Gordon says. "But we're also trying to win it for ourselves as well."

That's not arrogance. That's the voice of experience. The voice of a winner of 69 races who's gunning to surpass the late Dale Earnhardt's 76 career victories. The voice of a four-time champion who knows he has the team and the equipment to become a five-time points champion.

Even with the roll Gordon has been on, he is wise enough to admit that he'll have to get past his teammate before he can put that fifth trophy in the case.

"I don't know if anybody can beat Jimmie Johnson right now," Gordon says. "Those guys are so strong."

Certainly, there is a high level of respect between the teams. In 2002, Johnson put up rookie stats that were far better than Gordon's, and he was the points runner-up last season. But even if he already had won a title, it would not discount the regard Johnson holds for Gordon and the No. 24 team, the HMS flagship for nearly a decade.

"Jeff and Robbie (Loomis, crew chief) lead the way on how the flow works in our race shop," Johnson says. "The way they act and handle things determines how Chad (Knaus, crew chief) and I handle things. They've handled it with respect and class all along, and we've been able to give that same respect back. I think you'll see it throughout the whole year."

The teams say sharing technical information in the shop and at the track will continue. But on the track, unlike in Formula 1, there will be no team orders involving who receives preferential treatment. So when it comes down to the final 10 races and the teams are wheel to wheel, will this kinder, gentler partnership continue?

"I think you're going to see it separate more," Johnson says. "I don't think there can be a lot of independence in our shop because that's the way it's set up. That's the goal of it.

"But it's going to change a lot of things. When you put that much money and prestige over a 10-race span, I think it's going to change the dynamics of a lot of team situations."

If it comes down to the line, which team would I place my money on? The safe bet would be Gordon and the No. 24. But I would go for the big payoff and take Johnson's team. Until the last two races, Johnson has been on an incredible roll. He'll regain the momentum, and it will carry him to the head table at the champion's banquet.

Regardless, there will be a Hendrick team on top. No need to hedge my bets, but anyone for a 48-24 quinella?

SPEED READS

* Win at any cost? That's precisely what Ricky Rudd is willing to do. Despite crew chief Michael McSwain turning his Fatback on Rudd for greener pastures, Rudd wants him back. There are not many story lines that could upstage the Chase for the Championship in the final 10 races, but if those two return to victory lane together, it would tip the scales.

* In the aftermath of the issues Goodyear tires had at Indianapolis, expect NASCAR, Goodyear and the teams to take a closer look at setups for Bristol because the same tire combination will be used in the night race on August 28.

* With two cars outside of the top 30 in points, it was past time for Petty Enterprises to do something--such as the crew chief moves it made. The last win for a Petty car was in 1999, and Kyte Petty and teammate Jeff Green haven't been competitive enough to finish a race in the top 10 all season. Petty Enterprises needs new blood and fresh ideas to turn it around.

TSN's POWER POLL

                             Nextel        TSN          TSN points:
     Driver                Cup points     points       last 10 races

 (1) Jimmie Johnson          3,143       2,254 (2)        935 (2)
 (2) Jeff Gordon             3,103       2,316 (1)      1,170 (1)
 (3) Dale Earnhardt Jr.      3,015       1,822 (3)        478 (19)
 (4) Tony Stewart            2,951       1,805 (4)        908 (3)
 (5) Matt Kenseth            2,876       1,787 (5)        614 (11)
 (6) Elliott Sadler          2,792       1,570 (8)        703 (5)
 (7) Kurt Busch              2,754       1,584 (6)        700 (6)
 (8) Kevin Harvick           2,717       1,374 (12)       582 (12)
 (9) Bobby Labonte           2,714       1,583 (7)        674 (7)
(10) Jeremy Mayfield         2,656       1,472 (10)       825 (4)
(11) Kasey Kahne             2,632       1,420 (11)       574 (14)
(12) Ryan Newman             2,627       1,562 (9)        649 (10)
(13) Mark Martin             2,584       1,335 (13)       654 (9)
(14) Dale Jarrett            2,569       1,238 (15)       655 (8)
(15) Jamie McMurray          2,557       1,332 (14)       530 (16)

Through race No. 22, at Watkins Glen. For a complete TSN
Power Poll rundown and a points system explanations, go to
www.foxsports.com/name/public/NASCAR/Cup/PowerPoll.